Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, who also serves as the State
Fire Marshal, today offered an update on search and rescue efforts and thanked
emergency responders for their crucial, life-saving actions.

“Our initial response to major disaster is critical when lives are at stake,”
said Gallagher, who oversees the Department of Financial Services. “The jobs of
first responders are a reminder of why we’re here - to help Floridians in their
time of need.”

The State Fire Marshal’s Office, which is responsible for mobilizing search and
rescue efforts from the state Emergency Operations Center during an emergency,
has since Thursday been activated to assist Floridians coping with the aftermath
of Hurricane Ivan. Currently, the office is coordinating four FEMA urban search
and rescue teams, six state search and rescue teams and 40 teams of firefighters
with equipment available to assist local emergency responders.

These efforts are in addition to State Fire Marshal personnel who yesterday
assisted local and state rescue workers in clearing roadways and boat ramps of
debris to allow rescue crews to get to stranded or wounded Floridians. Today,
State Fire Marshal teams are aiding rescue forces in Perdido Island and East
Milton and searching for individuals who may have been trapped due to building
collapses.

The department’s Division of Insurance Fraud will be mobilized to support law
enforcement efforts in storm-affected areas in preventing looting and other
crimes associated with natural disasters, including insurance scams and price
gouging.

“I’m incredibly proud of the response of our employees, who have been working
around the clock, and of all the state and local emergency responders,”
Gallagher said. “Many of our emergency coordinators have been on the job since
Tropical Storm Bonnie, more than a month ago.”

Gallagher, who yesterday laid the groundwork for insurance consumer specialists
to enter storm-damaged areas in the panhandle to assist consumers in contacting
their insurance companies and filing claims, said he would continue to provide
support and resources to first responders as long as search and rescue efforts
lasted.

Recovery efforts continue in south and central Florida as victims of Hurricanes
Charley and Frances begin rebuilding their homes and businesses. Gallagher, who
served as insurance commissioner during Hurricane Andrew, has redeployed
insurance specialists and volunteers into affected areas, and the state’s
hurricane hotline remains open at 1-800-22-STORM. More than 30,000 Floridians
have been assisted with insurance questions and complaints.